Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Hello,

Now that the camping season is back I wanted to put this out to see if anyone has any alternatives to repel mosquitos without the use of deet products. Lately I've been hearing more about the negative side effects of deet and would like to venture into the use of a more natual product.

I've heard once that stuffing your pockets with rosemary works. Unfortunately being allergic to bites prevents me from being able to experiment myself.

Has anyone on this site personally tried or know of any effective natual remedies that they have tested out in the past?

Basically if you drop below 90+% effectiveness, the product is ineffective as an insect repellent. It looks like a Picaridin/Icaridin based product might be worth trying, but there still don't appear to be any 'natural' products that come close to being effective.

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Good links Rob, thanks! I'm interested in the lemon eucalyptus. Just hope it doesn't smell like citronella oil, had to turn the car window down the whole way home once bc we smelled real bad!

Have to do more reading on the Picaridin first but it def sounds better than my sac of herbs scattered around the bench. ..Wonder if that would be considered as leaving food out in the open...does anyone know? Wouldn't want to get in trouble by the park staff if I did try.

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Chipz03 wrote:

How often did you find you had to reapply?

Hmm. I can't really remember. The mosquitoes were only out during dawn and dusk and earlier in the year I was portaging and sweating it off, so had to spray it on more frequently. It sprays on creamy so I had to rub it onto my arms and exposed areas. It's by far the best natural repellent I've used.

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

I will vote for Picaridin, which I use for 5 or 6 years now. It's much better for your skin than DEET and as good as DEET against skitters. No smell either. You have to reapply it every 4-5 hours (it comes only in 20% solution).

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Hi Eddy, is there a particular brand you use and where would I be able to purchase this? I'm on an experimental run right now before my first camp trip and will be bringing a few good recomendated products.

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Hi Chipz03,as far as I know it's manufactured only by Sawyer (insect repellent with picaridin) and I buy it on Amazon, though recently some outdoor stores started selling it too. Good luck on your trip.

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

I think its Vitamin B-1 that keeps them away too. My bro took Vitamin B pills for a month before going to Asia n he said the bugs never touched him once.Its the same concept as the Insect patches that Italo promotes.

On another note, i heard that Citronella can no longer be sold as a repellent in Canada as it in fact attracts bugs. False advertising. Kinda funny really, companies got away with it and made millions for years lol

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

Craigson wrote:

On another note, i heard that Citronella can no longer be sold as a repellent in Canada as it in fact attracts bugs. False advertising. Kinda funny really, companies got away with it and made millions for years lol

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

I've tried those vitamin B patches and regardless of the bugs I found they left a nasty tast in my mouth and an oudour leaching out of my pores. No - it was not from the lack of deodorant lol. I won't be using them again.

Re: Mosquito Repellent - Natural Remedies

I'm with ya Craigson. I actually just started taking my vit B1 last weekend. I'm heading up in 2 weeks. I think it works awesome. Also 4-5 days prior to trip I over in dulge in garlic. Have it cooked in every meal. I also have this stuff which is real manly type. Got it from Avon lol. Can't think of the name of it, but pretty sure it's just an Avon line product. I got it for my daughters when they were younger as I wanted to steer clear of any deet products. I find it works really well as well. My 2 cents!